There is minimal evidence that diet affects pneumonia. A cohort study found that increased coffee, tea, oily fish, and fruit were associated with a reduced risk of developing pneumonia, while increased red meat intake was associated with an increased risk of developing pneumonia.[1] Given that this is observational data, controlled studies are needed to better determine the relationship between dietary patterns and pneumonia. Regardless of dietary pattern, people with pneumonia must meet their daily nutritional needs, as severe malnutrition in both young children (<5 years) and older adults (>65 years) with pneumonia is associated with an increased risk of mortality.[2][2] Some studies have also found that increasing energy and protein intake can improve health outcomes in people who are hospitalized for severe pneumonia.[3][4]
How could diet affect pneumonia?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
There is limited evidence that diet may influence pneumonia risk; certain foods like coffee, tea, oily fish, and fruit potentially reduce risk, and red meat may increase it. However, for people with pneumonia, meeting their daily nutritional needs is crucial because malnutrition can lead to higher mortality rates, and increasing energy and protein intake may improve outcomes for those hospitalized with severe pneumonia.